יום רביעי, ה׳ תשרי תשפ״זWednesday, September 16, 2026
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After such a miracle, how could the Jews possibly think about accumulating material wealth?
In the parshah we just read, G-d says to Moshe Rabbeinu: 'And I, too, heard the groans of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians are holding in bondage, and I remembered My covenant.'
What were the necessary steps for Israel to develop a national consciousness ahead of leaving Egypt?
The Rebbe refused to accept his mishloach manos until he promised to control his temper.
He thus encouraged everyone to utilize their talents and natural abilities to influence Jews to reinforce and advance their level of Torah observance.
Rashi and Hazal are telling us Egypt was much closer to current diasporas than we think
Advice for this stressful time: Rav Shlomo Wolbe said that we should pray at the start of the day over crises that we know will come.
All three individuals can do what was previously thought unachievable because their will and resolve unearth hidden strengths.
The ten plagues were part of a deliberate process to educate not only Egypt and Israel but also humanity.
Although I don't know you... I have heard about you that the spirit of G-d shines in you.
This story is actually a brilliant depiction of the interplay between divine providence and free will. Without taking away our ability to “surprise Him,” God – when needed – doesn’t hesitate to steer us in the direction He wants.
Moshe (which means "drawn out”) was drawn out of the water and he in turn drew the people out of the depths of slavery and ignorance into a life of freedom and Torah.
Did Moshe attempt to create a new Hebrew nation that would replace the children of Israel and be born free from the psychological degradation of slavery?
If a diamond is exposed to the heat of a flame for 30-45 seconds and then dropped in icy water, it won’t react to the extreme temperature change.
It is known among all the world’s religions that it is impossible for all members of a religion to be equally careful in observing the religion absolutely with all one’s heart and soul in all details.
Every act that a person does makes an impact on the world, whether good or otherwise.
Prayer with such devotion helps and aids one to withstand one’s evil inclination all day, even after prayer, to fulfill all G-d’s commandments, whether avoiding wrongdoing or doing good…for its memory remains with a person in his mind and heart all day.
So while a proper reading of the Book of Bereshit introduces us to moral complexity, its end pushes us even further. It prepares us for the fact that there is even a level of moral complexity, which we should realize exists even if we may never understand it
He responded, “Better that he broke your nose now than broke your marriage later.”
This year, Asarah B’Teves falls on a Friday – the only time a public fast day falls immediately before Shabbos. In fact, the fast continues into Shabbos, until three stars appear in the sky.
Judaism sees marriage differently. Married life is a microcosm of human interaction in the world at large. Marriage is the best school for learning the laws of human relationships.
Here Yehudah faces the challenge of facing up to an uncomfortable truth of his family dynamic, his father’s greater need for Binyamin’s presence.
In a moment of crisis and doubt, Yosef is reminded of his father and mother, of their values, their home, and the moral compass they represent.
When the video was shown to the judge, those present in court say he was obviously favorably impressed by the Rebbetzin’s unexpected statement, which probably sparked his ultimately favorable ruling.
The Hebrew word for ring, “taba’as,” has the same root as “teva” (nature).
How Yehudah Turned Bnai Ya’akov into Bnai Yisrael
All agree that the Chanukah candles represent insights
My necessary suffering was clear: postponing the wedding, entering isolation, placing my relatives in isolation, treating the headaches and other corona symptoms that had begun to appear. Despite all of this, I had to cope. That was clear.
He tried to size me up based on that one moment. He didn’t take into account all the effort I had been putting in.
Openness to acculturation, assimilation, and the foreign influences of the street leads to the destruction of the sanctity of the Jewish home.
For chassidim, Kislev features another celebration. On the 19th of Kislev in 1798, the Alter Rebbe was released from Czarist imprisonment.
Ramban’s view of yibum has long fascinated me, because of the metaphysics it assumes about a seemingly natural event.
To our dismay, the pandemic is a fact. But it’s not necessary that we become addicted to screens, to eating junk food, to wasting time, to cutting social ties, to sinking into pessimism. The pandemic doesn’t exempt us from decisions on how to behave.
“What new light has been added to your life?”
At the time of the wedding, many already realized this son-in-law would one day be the Rebbe Rayatz's successor.
What difference did it make to Esav whether Yaakov kept the mitzvos or not?
Rav Hirsch famously criticizes Yitzchak and Rivkah for not educating Esav according to his innate personality, and instead trying to force him to be like Ya’akov. His insight is meant to teach that while it was Esav that made the choice to go ‘off the derekh,’ there is always much that parents can try to do before that happens.
The revolution of Yitzchak is different – not to rebel, but to toe the line, to continue the tradition, to dig the same wells.
It is said of our ancestor Avraham that he didn’t seek to serve Hashem with mesiras nefesh, yet, when it was required of him, he was ready to give up everything for Hashem’s sake.
According to a familiar adage of Vishnitzer chassidim, a tear shed during prayer is more powerful than many fasts.
This week’s parsha is one place to see other valid options for how to deal with the underhanded. Know when to take the high-road; know when to go low
If we are learning Torah at a particular moment, then that is our mission at that moment, without allowance for any distractions.
Jews the world over can pride themselves in their descent from such moral pillars as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (and Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah).
Every person has the free will to use his traits to become a tzaddik or a rasha.
Enemies' promises were made to be broken. -Aesop
This story illustrates the Rebbe Rayatz’s prophetic vision because, during the Holocaust, Rabbi Zalman Schneerson saved hundreds of Jewish families and children in France from the Nazis.
Being bound on Mount Moriah gave Yitzchak a connection with God that would be disturbed by living outside the Land of Israel.
In light of the fact that 25 years ago the doctors predicted that I would live only 3-5 years, I am glad to still be alive.
Together with my sister, Nechama Purishinskaya, who lived in Vitebsk, I obtained flour from various people, baked bread, and delivered it to the yeshiva. Zalman Kurnitzer [the yeshiva’s dean] paid me money for the bread.”
Eliezer’s prominence in this week’s parsha reminds us of a lesson too often forgotten, too many times ending up embarrassing the cause of Torah and service of Gd: our associates shape us, turn us into the people we become.
Avraham had to prove that he wouldn’t regret his achievement at Har HaMoriah.
While visiting Avraham, Hashem saw that he was unhappy without guests, so He sent three angels disguised as desert nomads to provide Avraham with the opportunity to do hachnasas orchim.
The Gur Aryeh, Devarim 22:9, holds that when a mitzvah is done, the mitzvah that follows is similar to the original mitzvah.
The single good character trait is our continued attempt at self-improvement, the attempt to elevate morality over nature.
Despite the investigator’s sophisticated pressure, Kagan almost never specified family names and addresses demanded of him, and those whose names he did give, apparently could no longer be found.
The Medrash Rabbah that says that Avraham Avinu asked Hashem to swear to him that He wouldn’t test him or his son, Yitzchak, any further.
For anything worth having one must pay the price; and the price is always work, patience, love, self-sacrifice -- no paper currency, no promises to pay, but the gold of real service. -John Burroughs
In fact – at its core – there is no better argument than Avraham’s. For his petition is asking for nothing else than what is good for God. For when God executes strict justice, He often “sacrifices” His own reputation for the sake of the truth.
After months of running away from the world, he could breathe a sigh of relief, of satisfaction and even joy.
In order to be successful in outreach, one must first accommodate the person’s physical needs.
The investigation has established that you took part in a religious ritual – circumcision. Do you confirm?
Of neighborhoods, benevolence is the most beautiful. How can the man be considered wise who when he had the choice does not settle in benevolence. -Confucius
Lot was never going to be Avraham’s heir, but a better choice would have spared him removal from the household,
"Even when flood waters are raging all around us and everything looks bleak, there is a Noah's ark that can save us. When a person feels low and downcast, the best advice is: 'Make yourself into an ark' (Genesis 6:14).
No matter the trials or tribulations we experience, we must not sink into depression.
‘Arouse the holiness of religion in the hearts of the young generation. Give the youth the idea not to forget religion, and that the persecution of religion is a temporary phenomenon, as is its [Soviet] persecutor, which is only temporary.’
If so, why was Noah commanded not to murder (and, likely, other old commandments) as well? Apparently, there was something not yet completely intuitive, and that was the sanctity of life.
There are many stories about his devotion to his students, his deep concern for everyone, his endless good deeds, and his fascinating educational approach.
The healthy, the strong individual, is the one who asks for help when he needs it. Whether he has an abscess on his knee or in his soul. -Rona Barrett
Kayin, a prophet, sank to the lowest level and committed murder.
Even those never arrested lived lives of constant fear and privation, deprived of basic necessities, often losing close relatives to arrest, exile, and summary execution.
The etrog and its "smell of the perfection of obedience to Gd’s command it symbolizes"
The most important time of life is the present moment since the past is gone and, as for the future -- who knows what it will bring?
What’s the point of asking his children to stay just one more day after which they will leave anyway?
Although every set of three leaves on a hadas usually grows from one base, R’ Acha opted for a less beautiful hadas in deference to his teacher.
Yet in spite of Moshe’s best intentions, it is obvious that his blessings – as we have portrayed them – had little effect on the Jews once they reached the Land of Israel.
This is the time for one-to-one relationships. Life is no longer a matter of quantity, but of quality.
Emunah is like produce starting to fill out but still far from ripe.
We are given an opportunity to sanctify the mundane in the spirituality of the sukkah.
Say thank you for all that you have, for the tremendous abundance in your life that cannot be taken for granted in any way.
The governor couldn’t believe the audacity of the man. He immediately called the police to arrest him.
No Jew need be intimidated by the imagined enormity of the leap from non-observance to observance. Moreover, every mitzvah a Jew performs creates a permanent bond with Hashem that can never be erased.
When we cannot fully understand God’s decision that accepting it shows our true allegiance to Him
I took counsel with my grandfather who has already passed away and with my grandchild who has not yet been born.
One of the most significant ways of making this world a dwelling place for the Divine Presence is by giving tzedakah.
The Chofetz Chaim answered: “Every Jew needs to know how great Hashem is.”
This is a big atonement for me. My conscience was tormented. The purpose in my publication of this story is to set an example for our youth that they should not steal.
The Beer Chaim says that one who gives charity has the power to even resurrect the dead.
...G-d deals justly with all beings whereas we – because we have not always acted properly during the past year – have much to be embarrassed about.
The egoism which enters into our theories does not affect their sincerity; rather, the more our egoism is satisfied, the more robust is our belief. -George Eliot
Can God justifiably blame us for something we don’t know?
When a Jew realizes his exalted inner essence, he becomes infused with joy at being a Jew, a member of G-d’s chosen people privileged to carry out His great plan for the world, so that every mitzvah becomes a joyous act.
One needs divine assistance and much personal effort to discern the Torah perspective in the affairs of the world.
For some people, Uman is the ultimate dream. They also deserve our empathy and should not be mocked or denigrated.
As the Jewish people start their national life, they were to remind themselves, visually and dramatically, of the bright line between evil and not
September 11, 2026 
